Saturday, 12 July 2014

PROTEINS :: PART 2

ZWITTERION
-          Amino acids have amine (-NH2) and carboxylic acid (-COOH) functional groups and have an R (a side chain hydrocarbon). 

-          In an amino acid, when the carboxylic acid group loses H+ ion and amine group gains H+ ion, a zwitterion is formed. Zwitterion contains COO- group and NH3+ group. 

-          Zwitterion have both positive and negative charges, and hence neutral. 


-          Zwitterions are sometimes are also called ‘inner salts’.

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